Monday, April 9, 2012

A Leading Philosopher is Now Saying Neo-Darwinism is “Almost Certainly False”

Leading thinker Thomas Nagel has a new book coming out later this year on why “the widely accepted world view of materialist naturalism is untenable.” Evolutionists will be treated to yet more absurdities—this time focusing on the mind-body problem—which they have promoted for centuries. Evolution is so massive and influential, with so many apologists making absurd claims and so many fatal problems, that it will provide an abundance of material to pick over for centuries to come. Like geocentrism and Greek mythology, evolution will provide scholars with many career’s worth of material, for many years to come.

12 comments:

Aside from dealing with the inevitable problem of being chased off a cliff by villagers wielding pitchforks, torches and tattered copies of The Origin of Species what will Nagel likely propose as an alternative to materialist naturalism and the mind-body problem?

From what I saw as the book description at OUP, Nagel is arguing for panpsychism. This is not exactly news; he's been arguing for panpsychism for years. It's cool, and I look forward to reading it when it comes out, but I'm not sure what the big deal is supposed to be. (And Nagel isn't the only major philosopher who's been defending panpsychism lately. Galen Strawson, too.)

The link given above will take you to a brief description of Nagel's argument. It's not "opinion", but a line of thought that has considerable merit. And it's not contrary to evolutionary theory, either. In fact, the description at OUP indicates that Nagel's argument for panpsychism, and the critique of materialism, actually presupposes an acceptance of evolution. It's materialism that he's taking aim at, not evolution.

The reason why this matters is that he's taking aim, not against a well-confirmed empirical theory, but against a specific, quite optional, metaphysical interpretation of that theory. And as a philosopher, that he is well-qualified to do.

The reason why this matters is that he's taking aim, not against a well-confirmed empirical theory, but against a specific, quite optional, metaphysical interpretation of that theory. And as a philosopher, that he is well-qualified to do.

OK, thanks for the clarification.

That means when CH claimed in his OP

"A Leading Philosopher is Now Saying Neo-Darwinism is “Almost Certainly False”

In fairness, I've read some of Nagel's work -- his "What is it like to be a bat?" and others. Having read his older arguments against materialism, and in defense of panpsychism, I assumed that the same view was at work here as well. It could be that he'll criticize evolutionary theory as well. I don't know. I'll find out when I read it.

I don't care about this guys thoughts but it makes the point that everywhere one turns people always get in the crack about how Darwin/evolution is wrong about this or that.Is it just to sell books? Has the ID best sellers been a lesson?

Its like so many are champing at the bit to destroy evolutionism.I guess whats big does get desire to bring it down.

With such a climate being created against evolutionism its predictable that a wrong idea like evolution will attract increasing smarter people who undermine its factual foundations.Everybody is trying to take creationists glory of the kill.in our time evolution will be destroyed I predict.